PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Costs $208 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $617 MSRP).
✅Delivers 151.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 44.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $617 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌177.8% higher power demand at 125W vs 45W.

Core i9-13900H

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 125W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (27,444 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 44.5 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($617 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700K

2022

Core i9-13900H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +10.5% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
✅Costs $208 less on MSRP ($409 MSRP vs $617 MSRP).
✅Delivers 151.7% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 111.9 vs 44.5 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $617 MSRP).
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (20 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Why buy it

✅Draws 45W instead of 125W, a 80W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌177.8% higher power demand at 125W vs 45W.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-13700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (27,444 vs 45,784).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (24 MB vs 30 MB).
❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 44.5 vs 111.9 PassMark/$ ($617 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700K better than Core i9-13900H?

Yes. Core i7-13700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 10.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 66.8% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-13700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 10.5% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700K is the better fit. You are getting 66.8% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 24 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 25% larger total L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-13700K is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700K is $208 cheaper on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $617 MSRP, and it gives you a 10.5% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 151.7% better value on MSRP (111.9 vs 44.5 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i9-13900H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2023 vs 2022). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-13700K Benchmark Check

Core i9-13900H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900H
1080p
low	284 FPS	262 FPS
medium	268 FPS	253 FPS
high	223 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	190 FPS	180 FPS
1440p
low	238 FPS	223 FPS
medium	200 FPS	192 FPS
high	159 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	139 FPS	135 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	154 FPS
medium	134 FPS	132 FPS
high	103 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	90 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-13900H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900H
1080p
low	689 FPS	636 FPS
medium	580 FPS	543 FPS
high	484 FPS	458 FPS
ultra	439 FPS	417 FPS
1440p
low	595 FPS	554 FPS
medium	525 FPS	492 FPS
high	441 FPS	416 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	357 FPS
4K
low	348 FPS	325 FPS
medium	314 FPS	296 FPS
high	295 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	261 FPS	246 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-13900H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900H
1080p
low	648 FPS	648 FPS
medium	530 FPS	530 FPS
high	467 FPS	467 FPS
ultra	405 FPS	405 FPS
1440p
low	591 FPS	591 FPS
medium	491 FPS	491 FPS
high	427 FPS	427 FPS
ultra	371 FPS	370 FPS
4K
low	434 FPS	434 FPS
medium	374 FPS	374 FPS
high	339 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	290 FPS	290 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-13900H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900H
1080p
low	970 FPS	686 FPS
medium	883 FPS	686 FPS
high	766 FPS	686 FPS
ultra	689 FPS	672 FPS
1440p
low	829 FPS	686 FPS
medium	740 FPS	686 FPS
high	642 FPS	626 FPS
ultra	566 FPS	552 FPS
4K
low	567 FPS	555 FPS
medium	515 FPS	504 FPS
high	463 FPS	451 FPS
ultra	404 FPS	394 FPS

Open Core i7-13700K Open Core i9-13900H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700K and Core i9-13900H

Core i7-13700K

The Core i7-13700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. It features 16 cores and 24 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 30 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 45,784 points. Launch price was $409.

Core i9-13900H

The Core i9-13900H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 5.4 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 27,444 points. Launch price was $617.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-13700K packs 16 cores / 24 threads, while the Core i9-13900H offers 14 cores / 20 threads — the Core i7-13700K has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.4 GHz on the Core i7-13700K versus 5.4 GHz on the Core i9-13900H — identical boost frequencies (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Core i7-13700K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i9-13900H uses Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700K scores 45,784 against the Core i9-13900H's 27,444 — a 50.1% lead for the Core i7-13700K. L3 cache: 30 MB (total) on the Core i7-13700K vs 24 MB (total) on the Core i9-13900H.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900H
Cores / Threads	16 / 24+14%	14 / 20
Boost Clock	5.4 GHz	5.4 GHz
Base Clock	3.4 GHz+31%	2.6 GHz
L3 Cache	30 MB (total)+25%	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	Intel 7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024)
PassMark	45,784+67%	27,444
Cinebench R23 Multi	31,000	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,846	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	18,980	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core i9-13900H uses FCBGA1744 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900H
Socket	LGA1700	FCBGA1744
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	—
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	Yes	—
PCIe Lanes	20	—

🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: true (Core i7-13700K) / not specified (Core i9-13900H). The Core i7-13700K includes integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics 770), while the Core i9-13900H requires a dedicated GPU. Direct competitor: Core i7-13700K rivals Ryzen 9 7900X.

Feature	Core i7-13700K	Core i9-13900H
Integrated GPU	Yes	—
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	—
Unlocked	Yes	—
AVX-512	No	—
Virtualization	true	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-13700K launched at $409 MSRP, while the Core i9-13900H debuted at $617. On MSRP ($409 vs $617), the Core i7-13700K is $208 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-13700K delivers 111.9 pts/$ vs 44.5 pts/$ for the Core i9-13900H — making the Core i7-13700K the 86.3% better value option.